News & Insights
Physical security of the grid, Part 1
In this two-part Q&A series, PSC speaks with Lee Pagnan and Jonathan Wheeler from Barco, a supplier of advanced display and connectivity solutions found in many utility control rooms, about their customers' concerns with the security of their physical grid infrastructure.
Optimal sizing of renewable generation plants
In an age when renewable technologies enable power plants to be built at virtually any size, how do you calculate the optimum size based on a vast range of economic and other factors? A cohort of PSC's subject matter experts examines this topic in this article.
Unlocking the value of DERs
PSC is pleased to share this article from guest contributor Thomas Lee, Co-founder and CSO of Derapi. Thomas writes about the role he sees software and digital technologies playing in connecting and integrating DERs to accelerate electrification and decarbonization.
The complexity of renewables – Part 1
In this series of short technical articles, we look at various topics that illustrate the complexity of renewables as a concept within the ongoing energy transition. This first article by PSC's Zia Emin considers a range of system performance metrics and what we can expect as the energy transition evolves.
WHITE PAPER: FERC 881 roadmap considerations for transmission owners
Our latest white paper by PSC North America Senior Director Operational Technologies Dr. Anil Jampala offers transmission providers the primary considerations to leverage when building a roadmap to achieve FERC Order 881 compliance by July 2025.
A quick look back on 2022
PSC CEO Alex Boyd recalls the company's 2022 progress toward its vision to empower people to transform the energy industry so that, together, we will power a sustainable world.
Notes from the Road: Energy Transition North America
PSC's North America Managing Director Kevin Cheung weighs in on 2022 Reuters's Energy Transition Conference and the path to decarbonization by 2050.
Diversity and the energy transition
PSC’s North American General Manager of Operational Technologies John Camilleri offers his interpretation of the importance of interdisciplinary diversity in attaining decarbonization.
Getting to know Kristen Ong, 2022 PSC Scholarship recipient
As part of PSC's value of investing in the future, we have awarded the 2022 PSC Scholarship to Kristen Ong of the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Learn more about Kristen from this interview with PSC's Tina Kazmer.
Perspectives on the energy transition – Part 6
In the sixth and final article of our series on the Energy Transition, PSC CEO Alex Boyd shares insights into the role government could or should play in the energy transition while balancing stakeholder interests and building a sustainable future for the environment.
WHITE PAPER: Strategic Advice for new players in APAC’s energy industry
Written by PSC's Graeme Hutchison and Roderick Kisten, this paper lays out the unique challenges for emerging participants in the APAC energy landscape, some of the pitfalls to avoid, and a quick guide to consider before starting your energy project.
US local government in cybersecurity cross hairs
Guest contributor Jeffery Mayger speaks directly to US local governments about the challenges of keeping critical infrastructure secure and the importance of cybersecurity preparedness in the context of our evolving, modern grid.
It’s time to plan and implement FERC Order 881
With implementation and full compliance required by July 2025, US transmission organizations are preparing for changes to improve the accuracy and transparency of electric transmission line ratings to boost reliability and ensure fair wholesale electricity rates.
UK prepares for winter amid high electricity prices
Dr. Carlos Ferrandon-Cervantes, Raj Hirani, Jonathan Cervantes, Adam Harper and Sean McConnon from PSC UK's team share their thoughts on the UK's high electricity prices, its potential winter scenario and overall security of supply.
Increasing grid stability with demand side response
In this article, Dr. Mahmoud Elkazaz, James Wilson, Andrew Eviston, and Dereck Dombo from PSC UK's team look at the importance of demand side response as an option to increase grid stability and help achieve a net zero energy supply.
Perspectives on the energy transition – Part 5
In the fifth article of our series on the Energy Transition, PSC CEO Alex Boyd promotes visualizing the positive results we want and expect to see in a post-transition world as a tool to help bring about change.
Reflecting on the Energy Innovation Summit 2022
PSC UK’s Shahab Khan looks back on the Energy Innovation Summit (The Summit) held at SEC Glasgow from 28 to 29 September 2022.
Thoughts from the AFR Energy and Climate Summit 2022
The Australian Financial Review Energy and Climate Summit which was held in Sydney recently offered a diverse array of speakers and ran the gamut of topics. PSC's Tina Kazmer shares her insights and takeaways from the conference.
Highlights from EEA 2022
PSC APAC Real-Time Systems Manager Ray Young shares his perspective, looking back on the Electricity Engineers’ Association (EEA) 2022 Conference held 19-21 September in Hamilton, NZ.
Offshore wind in North America: What’s new, what’s next?
PSC North America's Mandhakini Motukuri offers insights into offshore wind's progress as well as the challenges related to the US goal of deploying 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
Perspectives on the energy transition – Part 4
In the fourth article of our series on the Energy Transition, PSC CEO Alex Boyd underscores the urgency of transitioning our global energy industry for ourselves and future generations.
PSC sponsors WiE and YEP
PSC's Markets Systems and Energy Applications team based in Perth is passionately active in sponsoring various networking events, workshops and energy conferences. Read more on PSC's involvement in developing and empowering future and existing leaders within the energy industry.
Cables Summer School
The IEEE’s Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS) organized their August 2022 Summer School on HVDC Transmission Cables and Accessories in Monmouth, Wales, UK. PSC's Raj Hirani shares his experience participating in this unique educational networking opportunity.
Power system automation and analysis tools
Dr. Mahmoud Elkazaz, Dr. Carlos Ferrandon-Cervantes, Raj Hirani, Jonathan Cervantes and Andrew Eviston from PSC UK's team have combined their efforts in this blog post focusing on power system automation and analysis tools.
Investing in our people
PSC is serious about professional development and PSC's Digital Marketing Specialist Will Dean is serious about contributing! He recently participated in HubSpot's annual INBOUND22 conference and came back all fired up!
CIGRE Paris Session 2022
After a four-year absence due to COVID-19, the CIGRE Paris Session returned as an in-person event from Sunday, 28 August, to Friday, 02 September 2022. PSC proudly participated on many fronts.
All queued up
Recently, the Berkeley Labs Electricity Markets and Policy department released aggregated data on interconnection queues from electric utilities across the United States. The results paint a stunning picture of today’s interconnection market, which is flooded by active solar and battery interconnection projects.
Tackling your OT procurement needs
Looking for a new OT system? PSC has the expertise and capabilities to make procurement easier.
An interconnected future
PSC UK's Dr. Luke Livermore shares his thoughts about an interconnected future, with careful planning and collaboration by all stakeholders.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Ben Hutchins
PSC's employee spotlight segment offers a look at what our hardworking people are all about when they’re not serving our clients and each other at work. This spotlight is on Ben Hutchins, a Senior Studies Consultant working remotely in the U.S.
Perspectives on the energy transition – Part 3
In the third article of our series on the Energy Transition, PSC CEO Alex Boyd contemplates the complexity and simplicity catalyzed by the energy transition and the resulting opportunities as we transform our industry away from fossil fuels toward renewables.
Solving the hydrogen conundrum
Hydrogen has long been seen as a key part of the transition to cleaner energy but it's not a magic bullet. Learn why PSC Europe's Managing Director Tim Miles thinks switching to green hydrogen needs careful management.
Enabling wind farm projects
PSC senior experts Hesam Marzooghi, Amir Mehrtash, Luke Livermore and Stephen Bex have contributed to our latest paper delving into the challenges and opportunities of enabling wind projects around the world.
Introducing PSC’s battery size optimization tool
PSC announces the development and deployment of a software tool we're calling SizeRight that quickly and efficiently optimizes Battery Energy Storage System sizing to ensure the right level of battery investment.
Investing in the future
For 20 years, PSC has been a proud partner with the Aruhiko - Power Engineering Excellence Trust (PEET) whose mission is to empower those who will shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy future.
The role of BESS in future power systems–Part 1
This is the first article in a series about Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in future power systems by PSC's Djino Pirsic, Principal Electrical Engineer and Hesam Marzooghi, APAC Power Systems Team Lead.
Global Offshore Wind 2022
After attending the Global Offshore Wind 2022 event in Manchester, PSC’s Michael Hook shares his perspective on the changes necessary to meet aggressive targets, especially in the UK.
Dynamic frequency services in GB
Dr. Mahmoud Elkazaz, Dr. Carlos Ferrandon-Cervantes, Raj Hirani, Jonathan Cervantes and Andrew Eviston from PSC UK's team have combined their efforts in this blog post looking at the area of dynamic frequency services within National Grid ESO's latest Operational Strategy Report.
Perspectives on the energy transition – Part 2
In the second article of our series on the Energy Transition, PSC CEO Alex Boyd advocates for a cooperative and collaborative relationship between the renewables sector and fossil fuels stakeholders with an "all fuels on deck" approach.
GE Digital’s Orchestrate Americas Conference
PSC has attended and sponsored GE Digital's annual Orchestrate Americas Conference many times over the years, but this was the first time for Mandhakini Motukuri, PSC's North America Sales & Marketing Lead. She offers her fresh perspective on the event in this post.
AEW22 takeaways
PSC's Head of Strategic Service Development Matt Robinson offers up his perspective on the themes presented during the Australian Energy Week conference which took place 6-9 June in Melbourne.
DSO training: preparing operators for a complex future
PSC's John O'Hehir and Dale Irwin explain the importance and benefits of Distribution System Operators (DSO) training in our new era of energy management.
Perspectives on the energy transition – Part 1
In a new series of articles, PSC CEO Alex Boyd contributes his perspectives on the energy transition by taking a closer look at some of the underrepresented facts and conclusions made on the topic. He kicks off the series with, "The energy transition and the path to a healthy environment" highlighting the health benefits of increasing renewable generation that is often overlooked.
Thoughts on CIDER22
In Adelaide earlier this month, PSC's Amir Mehrtash attended CIGRE Australia's 4th CIDER22 (Conference on Integration of Distributed Energy Resources). He shares his thoughts about the event in this post.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Gift Havert
Born in Thailand, raised in California, and now living in Kirkland, WA, Gift Havert has been with PSC for over two years. As North America Project and Office Coordinator, her role is essential to ensuring our projects run smoothly.
Renewable energy, synthetic inertia, and the US grid
PSC's James O'Brien contemplates how we maintain grid stability with the loss of inertia due to increasing renewables being connected to the US grid.
WEBINAR: If we designed the energy system today, how would it look?
PSC and Energy Magazine hosted a recent webinar with industry experts diving into the question, "if we could start from scratch, what would the energy system look like in 2022?" You can view the recorded session from the link in this post.
What’s up with hydrogen?
Our most recent special guest contributor is Dr. Mani Vadari, CEO of Modern Grid Solutions. In this post, he discusses the reality of hydrogen today and the potential it holds to help decarbonize in the future.
WEI 2022 annual conference
PSC UK’s Consulting Engineer Andrew Eviston represented PSC at the recent Wind Energy Ireland 2022 Annual Conference held in Dublin. In this post, Andrew offers his thoughts and insights into the conference.
BESS’ vital role in UK’s energy transition
Dr. Mahmoud Elkazaz, Dr. Carlos Ferrandon-Cervantes, Raj Hirani, Jonathan Cervantes and Andrew Eviston from PSC UK's team have combined their efforts in this blog post about the importance of Battery Energy Storage System solutions to the UK’s clean energy future.
Assessing the UK’s new energy security strategy
Graeme Hutchison is PSC UK's Team Leader of Regulation & Strategic Advisory in Studies & Planning. In this post, he offers his views on the UK's recently announced energy security strategy, pointing out the lack of some important details about how to achieve the country's clean energy ambitions.
ETS22: A breath of fresh air
More than two years into an unprecedented time for both our industry and the world, PSC Senior Global Marketing Manager Gayle Wooster ventured back into the world of in-person conferences. This is what she saw and heard at ETS22 and why she’s so optimistic about the future of the electricity industry.
A global response for HVDC connectors
Phil Devine, PSC UK’s General Manager of HVDC, considers Europe’s growing demand for renewables and the corresponding availability of global vendors to help build the necessary infrastructure to support it.
Data quality vs analytics
PSC CEO Alex Boyd and Harmonic Analytics CEO Phil Shepherd contemplate how utilities can maximize the value of their data by distinguishing the relationship between data quality and analytics.
EVs in UK’s future power system: A net-zero strategy
Dr. Mahmoud Elkazaz, Dr. Carlos Ferrandon-Cervantes, Raj Hirani, Jonathan Cervantes and Andrew Eviston from PSC UK's team have combined their efforts in this blog post about the UK's net-zero strategy and how electric vehicles are expected to play a part in the future power system.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Nicole Crawford
PSC's employee spotlight segment offers a look at what our hardworking people are all about when they’re not serving our clients and each other at work. This spotlight is on Nicole Crawford, Human Resources Business Partner in the Asia Pacific region.
Grid codes need to evolve, but not too quickly
PSC UK's Network Analysis and Planning Team Lead Adam Maloyd explores the necessary evolution of electricity grids and corresponding grid codes, highlighting the importance of thorough analysis and testing before any major changes are implemented.
Musings from EN22
PSC Australia attended our first in-person conference of 2022 at Energy Networks in Brisbane, and what an eye-opener it was!
WHITE PAPER: Change is constant. The skills shortage need not be.
Written by PSC's Head of Strategic Service Development, Matt Robinson, this paper looks at our industry's shortage of skilled staff, the challenge to do more with our current people and cultivating emerging talent during an era of extraordinary transformation.
REPORT: Energizing smart infrastructure
This new e-report investigates how progressive U.S. utilities are embracing smart infrastructure to provide more flexible and controllable loads on the grid, as well as identify where more innovation is needed.
Frequency stability in GB’s evolving grid
PSC UK's Chief Engineer in Power Systems, Steve Nutt and Engineer Carlos Ferrandon discuss the challenge of frequency stability raised in National Grid’s Operability Strategy Report of 2021.
DPSP 2022
After two years, the International Conference on Developments in Power System Protection (DPSP) is back in a hybrid format. PSC's Richard Adams and Daniel Randles were there in person to participate and report back on the much-missed networking and new developments toward maintaining grid stability.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Hamish Allan
PSC's employee spotlight segment offers a look at what our hardworking people are all about when they’re not serving our clients and each other at work. This spotlight is on Hamish Allan, Graduate Power Systems Engineer based in our office in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Keeping up with the pace of change
A rapid transition is underway as we make the shift toward achieving net-zero targets. PSC's Kevin Cheung poses the question, "Are we doing enough?"
PSC UK hosts Sembcorp visit
PSC supports Sembcorp Industries, a leading energy and urban solutions provider in Asia, in growing its renewables portfolio towards a greener future.
Rejuvenating the art of collaboration
PSC UK's Managing Director Tim Miles writes about the importance of collaboration in the complex environment of our evolving electricity industry.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Ray Young
PSC's employee spotlight segment offers a look at what our hardworking people are all about when they’re not serving our clients and each other at work. This spotlight is on Ray Young, PSC's Manager of Real-time Systems and Power Network Solutions in Asia Pacific.
PSC joins Energy Storage Ireland
PSC is proud to become a member of Energy Storage Ireland (ESI) and part of a collaborative network that recognizes the potential for energy storage in Ireland.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Abdullah Al-Digs
PSC has more than 200 global employees all contributing to helping power a more sustainable world. Our employee spotlight segment offers a look at what our hardworking people are all about when they’re not serving our clients and each other at work. This spotlight is on North America Associate Studies Consultant, Abdullah Al-Digs.
2021, the year that was
As PSC CEO Alex Boyd shares his thoughts about the past year, he ponders what our work lives will look like and the urgency surrounding achieving carbon net-zero by 2050.
PSC welcomes new North America Power Systems GM Daniel Leon
The entire PSC North America team is thrilled to announce and celebrate Daniel Leon as our new Power Systems General Manager.
Q&A with PSC Co-Founder, Tony Armstrong
PSC’s Business & Strategy Manager, Sarah Parsons, interviews original PSC Co-Founder Tony Armstrong to learn about how and why the company was founded more than 26 years ago.
The road to V2G
V2G technology can create opportunities for power grids and EV owners to help reach and maintain sustainability targets, but we’re not quite there yet.
PSC launches “PSC Podcast”
PSC is pleased to launch the "PSC Podcast" featuring PSC thought leaders and energy experts sharing their ideas, perspectives and insights about the electric power industry. In this, our inaugural episode, Matt Robinson, PSC's head of global strategic service development, discusses the energy transition and PSC's role in it.
Reflecting on Jicable HVDC ’21
PSC offers its takeaways from Jicable HVDC '21 International Symposium on HVDC Cable Systems.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Mark Prentice
PSC has more than 200 global employees all contributing to helping power a more sustainable world. Our employee spotlight segment offers a look at what our hardworking people are all about when they’re not serving our clients and each other at work. November's spotlight is on North America Power Systems Consultant, Mark Prentice.
A perspective on SIEW 2021
PSC’s Aiman Suhailah Saifuddin, a studies engineer based in Singapore, attended the hybrid Singapore International Energy Week October 25-29. Her takeaway? Collaboration is key to the energy transition.
Solar Ireland 2021 final thoughts
PSC’s General Manager in Ireland, Carlos Galvan, represented PSC at the recent Irish Solar Energy Association’s virtual conference. In this post, Carlos offers his thoughts on the event and voices his concerns related to the lack of concrete plans to combat the growing climate emergency.
PSC’s Richard Adams receives CIGRE’s pioneer 2020 e-session achievement award
PSC congratulates Principal Engineer Richard Adams for receiving CIGRE’s pioneer 2020 e-session achievement award.
A look back on ENIC 21
PSC’s Negar Shams looks back on another successful virtual event, the 2021 Energy Networks Innovation Conference, where PSC and strategic partner Harmonic Analytics were proud exhibitors and participants.
Climate change and the electric grid
PSC is pleased to publish this blog post by author and thought leader, Ernie Hayden, founder and principal of 443 Consulting, LLC. Ernie offers examples of climate change impacts to the electric grid, noting the potential solutions are expensive and will take valuable time to implement.
ESB’s transformation plan to deliver a low carbon electricity system by 2030
ESB Networks announce their “National Network, Local Connections Programme” which will transform how energy on Ireland’s electricity network is managed and consumed locally by customers and communities across the country.
CIRED 2021; another virtual event in the books
CIRED - where the electricity distribution community meets every two years in venues across Europe - took place in a virtual environment again this year. The CIRED 2021 event marks its 26th international conference and exhibition, including papers from PSC electricity distribution experts.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Tina Kazmer
PSC has more than 200 global employees all contributing to helping power a more sustainable world. Our monthly employee spotlight segment offers a look at what our hardworking people are all about when they're not serving our clients and each other at work. September's spotlight is on APAC Sales & Marketing Lead, Tina Kazmer.
Celebrating change: Revitalizing PSC’s vision and values
PSC’s President & CEO, Alex Boyd, announces a new and improved version of the Company’s vision and values statements that reflects the evolving sustainability needs of its global clients, employees and stakeholders.
CIGRE’s virtual centennial session
PSC's Richard Adams and Zia Emin contribute their perspective about participating in CIGRE's centennial session which was held virtually again this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
PSC shines a light on its strategic advisory service to help navigate the energy transition
PSC's OT and Strategic Advisory General Manager Matt Robinson discusses a renewed focus of the company's Strategic Advisory service in the Asia Pacific region.
PSC recaps its top takeaways from EEA 2021
PSC’s Peter Brown and Rob Lake offer a look back on EEA 2021 which took place in Wellington, NZ last month.
PSC and Harmonic Analytics announce strategic partnership
PSC and Harmonic Analytics partner to deliver insights to the electricity industry through the innovative power of data.
Considerations for joining the Western Energy Imbalance Market – Part 3: Member cost savings and the benefits of participation
In this, the last article of a three-part series about the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM), we look at EIM member cost savings and the benefits of participation, and PSC Technical Director Tracy Rolstad answers some common questions about the EIM.
Transpower New Zealand 2021 Survey
PSC and our partners have completed a survey of over 1600 km of transmission line for New Zealand's National Grid owner Transpower combining detailed modeling with dedicated vegetation management for the Phase 10 survey.
Australia leans in on synthetic inertia for grid stability
PSC’s Roger Riley explains the inertia dilemma in balancing modern electricity grids and how Australia has utilized its asynchronous generation and storage to find cost-effective grid stability solutions.
PSC’s evolving framework for delivering bespoke Market Management Systems
The complexity of highly regulated electricity market management systems calls for a hybrid framework for delivering tailor-made systems. This post explains why one size does not fit all in today's energy markets and how PSC’s unique approach - based on solid software development skills and lessons learned – is an ever-evolving process.
EPIC, a win-win innovation project for the UK
WPD’s EPIC innovation project aims to integrate local electricity expectations by creating an automated approach to HV network analysis and making it a standardized part of WPD’s planning assumptions. It also gives local stakeholders a voice to provide input into how solutions to network constraints are selected.
PSC welcomes Heskin Mzungu as new APAC Power System Studies Team Leader
PSC continues to build out its management team as it gears up for growth, with Heskin Mzungu joining the consultancy as its new Power Systems Studies Team Leader in its Asia Pacific region.
Remembering the fallen
Memorial Day is a time for Americans to reconnect with our history and core values by honoring those who gave their lives for our country’s ideals. This Memorial Day, we are especially grateful as we celebrate the life of one of our industry colleagues, Jim Knight, who lost his courageous battle with lung cancer this month.
PSC celebrates 26 years
May 22, 1995, is PSC’s birthday when founders Tony Armstrong and Ranil De Silva wrote the first chapter of PSC’s history in New Zealand. Since then - supported by our amazing clients and dedicated employees around the world - PSC has faced our ups and downs and continues to help our clients solve the real-world problems facing the electricity industry today.
The driving forces behind climate momentum and clean energy transition for businesses, and the actions to take
Guest contributors Aleksandra Taskovic and Sam Gill from SLR Consulting offer their insights about the global energy transition and the importance of businesses developing their own plans for climate action.
PSC attends virtual Future Networks Conference
The UK's Future Networks Conference took place virtually April 28-29 and brought together C-level energy network executives as directors, heads and managers responsible for innovation, regulation, strategy and more, to set out how net-zero challenges will be managed within RIIO2 constraints. PSC UK was in attendance to gain and share insights.
WPD and PSC submit ReFlex project for OFGEM Network Innovation Competition
PSC is collaborating with WPD to develop a project to trial flexible reactive power in distribution networks to realize the real-world benefit demonstrated in the Virtual Statcom project studies.
Building and maintaining an external model
While the primary focus for EMS modeling is on a company’s own electric system, an external model of neighboring electric systems is needed to support the internal EMS operations of the company.
PSC celebrates Earth Day
PSC's contribution to addressing climate change is helping you power a more sustainable world and on April 22 we are celebrating Earth Day.
PSC brand refresh
We're excited to unveil our refreshed brand identity. It’s not a major change. We're just implementing some new elements – a fresh coat of paint, if you will – in terms of our voice and visual branding.
For data center stakeholders, sustainability is central to evolution
PSC, Ramboll, and EYP Mission Critical Facilities have teamed up to offer joint data center support services to help clients with the digital transformation – our data center webinar series is answering critical questions about the future of the industry.
Texas cold snap outages and extreme event planning
PSC’s Tracy Rolstad lends his expertise to evaluate recent extreme weather events in Texas and how planning for such events and assessing the risks aren’t enough. Actionable language in standards and investment per Planning studies is a step in the right direction.
Power networks and flexibility to accommodate changing usage patterns
PSC’s David Mills' featured presentation during an IET West Midlands Power Group webinar covered recent projects looking into generator and demand flexibility to support decarbonization.
New GPS requirement for Australia’s WEM Market Participants
AEMO has introduced new requirements for Market Participants with an existing Arrangement for Access to the WEM. Affected generators will need to have a Registered GPS in place by 31 January 2022.
From debate to co-operate; utilities benefit by increasing stakeholder engagement
Guest contributor Susan Christensen Wimer writes why it’s important for utilities to identify all stakeholders and develop an inclusive engagement strategy.
Considerations for joining the Western Energy Imbalance Market – Part 2: What do I need to know before joining?
The benefits of the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) will continue to grow as participation in the market increases. With the rate of new entrants booming, utilities should carefully consider whether they are prepared to join the EIM. In this Q&A, we explore some of the practical considerations of joining the Western EIM.
PSC joins the Irish Solar Energy Association
PSC is proud to become a member of the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA), bringing with it the opportunity to collaborate with a strong network of like-minded companies recognizing the potential for solar in Ireland.
New U.S. administration seeks net-zero by 2050
President Joe Biden and his administration have pledged to simultaneously rebuild the US economy and address the threat of climate change. While the new administration’s actions so far are fairly high-level, all indications are that we can anticipate more guidance and other energy sector stimuli as the US moves toward its clean energy goals.
PSC’s 2020 highlights: An exceptional year in review
An exceptional year has ended and a new one is upon us. In this blog post, PSC President & CEO Alex Boyd looks back on the Company's 2020 highlights.
PSC welcomes Rose Urban to its UK/Europe HVDC team
PSC welcomes Rose Urban as Principal Electrical Engineer in the UK/Europe region. Rose brings to PSC her comprehensive experience in power systems, HVDC/HVAC cables and HVDC interconnectors. Based in the UK, she'll be a valued member of PSC’s HVDC team in the region.
PSC Announces Support Charities for 2020
Each year around the holidays, PSC directs charitable contributions to local organizations helping people in need. Employees nominated local organizations in the regions where PSC operates.
PSC experts discuss the UK’s Ten Point Plan for ‘a green industrial revolution’ – Part 3 of 3
In this blog series, Gary Landels asks questions of PSC’s industry experts in the offshore wind, transmission and distribution sectors and discusses what impact and potential solutions could help the UK enact its Ten Point Plan toward zero emissions.
PSC sponsors EUCI’s Transmission Upgrades and Expansion 2020 Conference
PSC’s John Camilleri and Tracy Rolstad virtually presented during EUCI’s Transmission Upgrades and Expansion 2020 Conference, December 9-10.
The future of ripple control and peak demand management in New Zealand
In collaboration with key stakeholders, PSC contributed to a new EECA report to help inform future plans for demand management in New Zealand.
Preparing for green hydrogen
Guest blogger Erik Westergaard offers his thoughts about the barriers to widely implementing green hydrogen and the focus required to prepare a roadmap taking all stakeholders into account.
A look back on a virtual ENIC
PSC's experts engage with UK electricity and gas industry leaders at Energy Networks Innovation Conference (ENIC).
PSC experts discuss the UK’s Ten Point Plan for ‘a green industrial revolution’ – Part 2 of 3
In this blog series, Gary Landels asks questions of PSC’s industry experts in the offshore wind, transmission and distribution sectors and discusses what impact and potential solutions could help the UK enact its Ten Point Plan toward zero emissions.
PSC dovetails domain expertise and collaboration in support of WPD’s innovation projects
WPD is working with PSC and other partners to develop solutions for its fast-changing and dynamic electricity network. The latest of these is the “NEAT” (Network Events and Alarm Transparency) project.
Brad Flanagan, Essential Energy’s Head of Cybersecurity, on securing OT environments and the AESCSF
PSC interviews the Head of Cybersecurity at Essential Energy about securing power utilities’ SCADA environments, the impact of new security legislation for critical infrastructure and the Australian Energy Sector Cybersecurity Framework (AESCSF).
PSC experts discuss the UK’s Ten Point Plan for ‘a green industrial revolution’ – Part 1 of 3
In this blog series, Gary Landels asks questions of PSC’s industry experts in the offshore wind, transmission and distribution sectors and discusses what impact and potential solutions could help the UK enact its Ten Point Plan toward zero emissions.
Adding value-effort modeling to Australia’s cybersecurity conversation
PSC’s Rob Anderson gives his opinion on cybersecurity strategies and why what he terms ‘value-effort modeling’ is preferred over an exclusively compliance-based approach.
Hydrogen is making a comeback!
Because of hydrogen's versatility, it’s making a comeback in the transportation and power generation sectors, just in time to help tackle environmental concerns and enhance energy security.
Considerations for joining the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) – Part 1: What is the EIM?
CAISO’s Western EIM is the first real-time energy market of its kind in the western United States. Its market system automatically finds low-cost energy to serve real-time consumer demand across a broad swath of the West. In this piece we introduce the EIM and take a look at the benefits and challenges associated with joining the EIM.
PSC has created a new business unit to better meet our clients’ needs
PSC Market Systems team has split into two business units, Market Systems and Energy Applications. This allows us to better serve our clients, provide greater value for money and develop our people.
Electricity: the “coffee” of international energy markets
Increased utilization of transmission capacity via HVDC enables cross-border trading and provides growth in renewables, supporting a cleaner, more sustainable global energy system.
PSC welcomes APAC Power Networks GM
PSC welcomes Roderick Kisten as Power Networks General Manager in APAC, bringing extensive experience in power systems engineering, project management and electric utility consulting to PSC.
PSC welcomes new HVDC GM
PSC announces its new HVDC General Manager for the UK/Europe region. The new GM joins PSC with over 25 years of industry experience and vast knowledge of all aspects of HVDC projects.
IIoT and the keys to actualizing the decentralized energy revolution – Part 3 of 3
This series investigates the potential applications of distributed systems, as well as the role of interoperability in actualizing the decentralized energy revolution.
PSC’s Richard Adams receives CIGRE’s Outstanding Service Award
PSC’s Richard Adams has received CIGRE Study Committee B5’s Outstanding Service Award in recognition of his contribution, commitment and dedication in the field of Protection and Automation.
PSC supports WPD’s innovation efforts
In an effort to quickly gain knowledge and experience through innovation projects, WPD is working with PSC to develop solutions for its fast-changing and dynamic electricity network.
A look back on CIGRE’s 2020 virtual Paris Session
As large gatherings are off the agenda due to COVID-19, here’s one engineer’s take on CIGRE’s biennial Paris Session from his home office in the UK.
Why now is a better time than ever to use consultants
Consultants are at their best when helping clients solve complex problems and right now is a time they can add value more than ever before.
Pedagogical considerations of grid resiliency
Whether it’s scrambling to get the lights back on or teaching our kids geometry, adopting new technology in a short timeframe and using it to achieve critical tasks is a challenge in the best of times.
Waste-to-energy plants; helping power a more sustainable world
PSC is proud to offer Wheelabrator Technologies (WTI) our Owner’s Engineer specialist support services as they develop and commission new waste-to-energy facilities in the UK.
BZE publishes ‘Million Jobs Plan’ for Australia
PSC is proud to have contributed to Beyond Zero Emissions' (BZE) Million Jobs Plan which lays out a comprehensive range of initiatives to rebuild Australia’s economy post-COVID by ramping up the transition to a zero-carbon economy.
Navigating the uncharted waters of the UK’s latest utility business model evolution
In a rapidly evolving business environment like today’s electricity sector, anticipating changes and maintaining regulatory alignment to current policy can have a significant impact on a business.
Protecting Wind Farms
PSC experts can help assess asset vulnerabilities and threats and implement solutions that improve cybersecurity while complying with all regulatory standards.
IIoT and the keys to actualizing the decentralized energy revolution – Part 2 of 3
This series investigates the potential applications of distributed systems, as well as the role of interoperability in actualizing the decentralized energy revolution.
Australia’s unique energy regulatory context – Part 2
Peter Brown delves into the elements to consider when developing a Generator Compliance Monitoring Program in Australia.
White Paper: Considerations for IDS in an OT Environment
Intrusion Detection Systems are gaining increased relevance to the utility industry.
PSC’s operations in Australia and New Zealand earn ISO 9001:2015 re-certification
By auditing our processes, we assure our clients are receiving the highest level of service.
Players change but the game remains the same
The pace and timing of electric utility workforce change vary between organizations, geography and regulatory environments.
Prioritizing cybersecurity governance
Governance lays the foundation for effective cybersecurity management and a unified approach to mitigating a utility’s cyber threat landscape.
Nation-State Cyber Warfare: Energy Industry in the Crosshairs
The digitization of utilities’ OT assets has increased concerns about the security of critical infrastructure.
PSC celebrates CIGRE’s Distinguished Member award
PSC is proud to announce that Principal Engineer Richard Adams has been awarded CIGRE’s “Distinguished Member” honor.
PSC adds value to expanding offshore wind sector
PSC is well-positioned to support the continued global growth in the development of offshore wind.
IIoT and the keys to actualizing the decentralized energy revolution – Part 1 of 3
This series investigates the potential applications of distributed systems, as well as the role of interoperability in actualizing the decentralized energy revolution.
Australia’s unique energy regulatory context – Part 1
Australia has a uniquely ‘long, skinny’ energy network with a high penetration of renewable generation.
Protection Engineering for the Modern Grid
As renewable generation increases, the role of protection engineering is adapting to balance integrating these new resources while maintaining reliability.
Adapting in a rapidly changing industry
Alex Boyd shares highlights from his presentation, "Balancing Industry Mission with Innovation and Change” in an online seminar hosted by Washington State University’s Energy Systems Innovation Center (ESIC).
Which storage solution is right for you?
As storage technology continues to evolve, energy suppliers and consumers alike are presented with increasing options for deployment.
Living our values during challenging times
At PSC we’ve always seen ourselves as serving communities - helping our clients power the world and keep the lights on around the globe.
COVID-19: Giving new meaning to “cascading event”
PSC and our industry at large are pitching in to make sure this pandemic doesn’t cascade from a public health crisis to an electric service emergency.
COVID-19 Message: PSC is here for our clients and communities
PSC is committed to continuing to deliver the kind of dependable service our clients have come to expect from us.
Technology is disappearing at DistribuTECH International, and that may be a good thing
While the technology we use to plan and operate the grid “disappears,” the impact of events like DistribuTECH International as a showcase for these technologies is apparent.
Tony Weller celebrates 20 years of excellent service with PSC
PSC congratulates Tony Weller who recently achieved a significant milestone in completing 20 years of excellent service.
PSC CEO to Deliver DPSP 2020 Keynote Speech
PSC is proud to support and participate in the 15th International Conference on Developments in Power System Protection.
PSC acquires power system experts from Ramboll UK broadening PSC’s reach and augmenting its capabilities
Acquisition strengthens PSC’s European presence and provides its clients with additional expert resources.
PSC acquires Gridconnect, strengthening ability to help clients develop and deploy renewables
The acquisition enables PSC to bring a more robust level of support and guidance to our clients in Europe and around the world.
Towards a common understanding of resilience
Promising headway is being made to align on a common definition and develop actionable measures to build resilience into systems and organizations.
2019: A global snapshot
PSC explores some of the most noteworthy events in the electricity industry in 2019.
Regional HVDC interconnection and its impact on network performance
PSC’s engineering specialists completed system studies and analysis on a proposed HVDC link between the US and Canada.
Integration of Remote Offshore Energy with High Voltage Direct Current
PSC’s Stephen Butler delivered a paper at the Electricity Engineers’ Association (EEA) conference in New Zealand.
HVDC: All grown up
PSC Principal Power Systems Engineer Perry Hofbauer, P.Eng contributes his thoughts about the resurgence of HVDC.
Naresh Kumar celebrates 10 years of excellent service with PSC
The PSC management team congratulates Naresh on reaching this important milestone.
PSC Scholarship winner Laura Harding is bringing a ‘big spark’ to the NZ electricity industry
We spoke with Laura about school, sailing, and the future of the NZ electricity industry.
Staff Spotlight – Dr Hooman Andami
We are very pleased to welcome Dr Hooman Andami to the PSC Europe team.
Transmission Planning with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) as non-network Solutions
The objective of electricity transmission network expansion planning is typically to determine the most efficient grid development options to balance generation with demand.
Stability Study for Renewable Integration, North America
PSC ran a comparative study between the client’s North American system model and jurisdictions in South Australia and Ireland experiencing similarly increased levels of renewable penetration in their systems.
2019 PSC Scholarship awarded to Laura Harding
The PSC Scholarship was established in 2004 as a co-operation between PSC and the Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPECentre).
Distribution Automation Strategy Review
Distribution automation scheme applications in operation around the world improve reliability, voltage performance and network operational visibility.
New Hire Spotlight – Alex Bash
We’re super excited to welcome Alex Bash to PSC! Alex joins us as an HR Generalist for North America.
Get to know Tracy Rolstad, PSC’s newest Technical Director
We are pleased to welcome Tracy Rolstad in his new role as a Technical Director with PSC!
The Future Has Arrived in New Zealand
The focus at the 2019 Electricity Engineers' Association Conference & Exhibition was on the role engineering will play in bringing this new age of electricity generation and supply to life.
Stephen Butler Celebrates 10 Years of Excellent Service with PSC
Stephen joined PSC in 2009 as a graduate engineer after completing his engineering degree at the University of Canterbury.
PSC Supports Virtual Statcom Innovation Project
As an increasing number of Distributed Generators (DGs) connect to distribution networks, technical constraints arise that can limit the total amount of generation a network can host.
PSC Supports Rwanda Girls Initiative
PSC sponsored a 5k fun run in support of the Rwanda Girls Initiative on their mission to educate and empower girls of Rwanda to reach their highest potential.
Harmonic Analysis in a Meshed Network
Transmission and distribution system operators are responsible for maintaining harmonic voltage distortion within statutory limits in their own networks.
Aerial Laser Survey in New Zealand
Transpower New Zealand has successfully completed an aerial laser survey (ALS) of 2000 km of transmission lines, with the help of PSC and Opten,
PSC Strengthens Regional Leadership
We are thrilled to announce that several new leadership positions at PSC were accepted by incumbent PSC staff in North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.
DistribuTECH 2019
More than 12,000 attendees from utilities, energy companies, and technology vendors crammed the halls of Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana to participate in DistribuTECH 2019 in February.
John O’Hehir celebrates 10 years of excellent service with PSC
John O’Hehir, a Director in the Operational Technology business for PSC North America, recently celebrated 10 years of excellent service with PSC.
Team PSC at the 2018 Pioneer Race
Following on from success in the 2017 Pioneer 7-day mountain bike race in New Zealand, the biking duo decided to put in an entry for the 2018 Pioneer with the support of PSC.
Project Management – 5 tips for keeping your project on track
Electric utilities deliver large and complex projects that deal with critical infrastructure.
5 things you’ll love about the NEW pscconsulting.com
Get in touch with PSC experts with the click of a button (try it!)
Spotlight on Generator Testing
A Complete Service - combined with the Genassure Test Service, PSC provides services in Generator Testing and Modelling.
Power Systems, Powder, and Pork Pie – A Conversation with PSC 2018 Scholarship Winner Irene Anderson
In August 2018, Irene Anderson of the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, became the 14th winner of the PSC Scholarship.
Meet Margaret Snape, PSC’s new Business Manager to the CEO!
Margaret Snape has joined the Kirkland office, working with CEO Alex Boyd as Business Manager.
Kent Horan celebrates 20 years of Excellent Service
Kent is a SCADA/Controls Engineer with many years of experience in HVDC transmission systems.
Cigré Canada – Adapting the grid to the customer of the future
PSC was proud to be a Diamond Sponsor of CIGRE Canada 2018, a venue for participants to collaborate to help define the future of the electric power industry.
Territory Generation – remote operations centre (ROC) update
In March 2016 PSC was awarded the role to scope Territory Generation’s Remote Operations Centre (ROC) project in Darwin.
APEx 2018 Conference
PSC’s Dr. Ranil de Silva was a speaker on the panel session – Renewables and Energy Efficiency at this year's conference.
Feiyu Lu celebrates 10 years of Excellent Service at PSC
Feiyu Lu is a Power System and EMS Engineer based in the United States.
Fast Modelling with Real-Time Simulation
While off-line simulation is still widely used in the industry, there is a growing recognition that very long simulation run times tend to make good engineering analysis very difficult.
Overview of new system strength requirements in Australia’s National Electricity Market
Electricity System strength, traditionally provided by large rotating machines such as thermal and hydro generation units, helps the grid remain stable following a fault.
Simon Lister celebrates 20 years of Excellent Service with PSC
PSC congratulates Simon Lister who has achieved a significant milestone in completing 20 years of excellent service with PSC.
PSC opens new Christchurch Office in New Zealand
The office will house PSC’s group of electrical and operational technology engineers in Christchurch and the Genassure team.
PSC welcomes Roger Riley
PSC is pleased to welcome Roger Riley as General Manager, Power Networks for Australia and New Zealand.
PSC supports commissioning of world’s first VSC Bipole HVDC link
HVDC’s ability to send large amounts of electricity over long distances with low electrical losses has historically made it a technology of choice for long-distance bulk power transmission.
Back to the future for Tony Armstrong
Many of the PSC clients are asking what Tony is up to since the management buyout and the recent governance changes. Tony explains this as being like ‘back to the future’.
PSC welcomes Roger Bedell
PSC is pleased to welcome Roger Bedell as a Senior Consultant to PSC North America based in Kirkland, Washington.
CIGRÉ 2018 – from PV Arrays to … ‘Parlez vous Français’?
As a leading provider of solutions and support for the electricity industry, PSC will be represented by several key staff at CIGRÉ 2018.
PSC at the 2018 ENA Conference in Australia
PSC was pleased to be an exhibitor at the 2018 ENA Conference and had a team available to discuss the changes and transformation of the electricity industry.
DER Advice to Regulators in California and Minnesota
Distributed Energy Resources (DER) including rooftop PV, batteries, and electric vehicles, are changing the way that distribution networks operate.
Keith Fisk celebrates 20 years of Excellent Service
PSC congratulates Keith Fisk who achieved a significant milestone in completing 20 years of excellent service with the company.
Power System Dynamics in Distribution Systems
Historically, in large electricity grids, generation is rarely found within the distribution system, but is rather connected remotely via a high voltage transmission network.
PSC welcomes back Stephen Butler
PSC is pleased to welcome back Stephen who has re-joined PSC in New Zealand.
PSC welcomes back Naresh Kumar
PSC is pleased to welcome back Naresh who has re-joined PSC in New Zealand.
Mark Gilchrist celebrates 20 years of Excellent Service with PSC
From China, Norway, Finland and Wales through to Zambia and the Congo, Mark has been heavily involved in the commissioning of many projects.
Idaho Power follows best practices for root cause analysis
Idaho Power is an electric utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution, sale and purchase of electric energy in the United States of America.
Automatic Generation Control – is it time for a tune up?
Automatic Generation Control (AGC), on an Energy Management System (EMS), is critical for responding to frequency deviations on the system network.
PSC expansion in Asia
PSC is pleased to announce that Dr Keehan Chan has been appointed as the General Manager of PSC Asia and will be responsible for our business operation in the Asia region.
Martin and Kim at the Commonwealth Games in Australia
The 2018 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXI Commonwealth Games were held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, during April 2018. PSC’s Martin Stacey and his wife Kim were both volunteers for the games.
Electricity Distribution Networks – PSC Focus
It is obvious that the electricity industry is changing at a fast pace.
PSC welcomes Rob Fairchild
PSC North America is pleased to welcome Rob Fairchild to our team of expert consultants.
Detailed Testing, Modelling and Compliance in the Snowy River Mountains
Snowy Hydro is a dynamic energy company supplying electricity to more than one million homes and businesses. Since the days of their pioneering past, Snowy Hydro has grown into the fourth largest player in the Australian energy market.
Kevin Hart celebrates 10 years of Excellent Service at PSC
Kevin Hart is a SCADA Engineer in our Adelaide SCADA team for the ElectraNet SCADA support contract that includes SCADA development, database and display maintenance, systems administration, on-call response and support for specific applications.
PSC welcomes Sandi LiSanti
PSC Group is pleased to announce Sandi LiSanti to the position of Chief Financial Officer.
Connecting at DistribuTECH 2018
Utilities, power companies, and technology vendors flock to DistribuTECH for its reputation as a leading venue for showcasing the major technologies and trends in the electricity industry.
Tanya Edgar celebrates 10 years of Excellent Service with PSC
Tanya Edgar is a Software Developer and Database Administrator with extensive experience in the development and support of applications and databases used in the electricity industry.
2017 PSC Scholarship Recipient
Congratulations goes to 2017 PSC Scholarship recipient Thomas Galbraith, selected from a field of high calibre candidates with his excellent academic performance and a strong focus on practical experience.
PSC welcomes Shane Kerr
PSC is pleased to welcome Shane Kerr as the Electrical Engineering Manager for Australia, within the Asia Pacific Power Networks team.
Edward Hall celebrates 20 years of Excellent Service with PSC
Edward initially joined PSC as a Project Manager & Consultant, and has had several roles including Operations Manager and IT, Quality & Safety Manager.
PSC Sponsors Electric Bicycle Competition
It has been a busy few months for a team of students at Scots College in Wellington New Zealand as they build an electric bicycle for the Evolocity electric vehicle school competition.
ISO9001 Quality Audits in PSC Australia and New Zealand
The audit results show PSC’s continued commitment to the improvement of its quality management system and service to PSC’s clients.
Generator Testing and Modelling in Malaysia
PSC and Genassure were onsite at the Murum HEP Power Station to test two of the generator units and tune one of the governors.
CIGRÉ Australia D2 Panel
The panel meeting was chaired by Victor Tan, the Convener of the panel, and PSC’s Principal Network and Security Consultant.
Power System Stabilizer Design
Utilities need to tune new and existing Power System Stabilizers (PSS) to ensure stability of their power systems as network topologies evolve and new system stresses emerge.
Our Next Evolutionary Step
Recently, the founders and existing shareholders of PSC completed a management and staff buyout that consolidates all of PSC’s operations as a single, global entity.
PSC and Harmonic Launch New Service Offering
Recognising the rapid change affecting the electricity sector and the approaching ‘data tsunami’, PSC and Harmonic will work together to solve complex industry challenges through advanced analytics.
PSC Joins a NZ Government Delegation to the USA
PSC Group Chairman and Co-Founder Tony Armstrong visited San Francisco as part of the New Zealand government delegation.
UK Future Power System Architecture Project
PSC participated in this project on a volunteer basis and was able to contribute two key points into the project.
PSC Assists Power & Water Corporation
PSC assisted Power and Water Corporation with two distribution substation projects, a new 66/22kV zone substation at Strangways and a project to build an indoor 22kV substation to replace outdoor 22kV switchgear at the Tennant Creek substation.
PSC Achieves Achilles Certification
PSC have been registered in the Achilles Utilities sector which supports over 200 large buying organisations and 32,000 suppliers across 6 different communities.
HVDC Specialist Talent
We recognise that the technology is constantly evolving but with a pool of specialist talent, the PSC team has the edge.
An Emerging Leader in Market Systems Support
PSC’s reputation for excellence has been forged by providing specialist support services to some of the largest system and/or market operators within the Asia-Pacific region and North America, as illustrated in the map.
Our Far South Adventure
With a keen interest in sustainability and renewable energy, Tony embarked on this voyage to enhance his knowledge of environmental issues.
Solar Car Powers up to Meet the Challenge
This industry is an increasingly strategic one with current growth projections showing that, by 2050, there will be over two billion cars on the roads of the world.
PSC Explores Renewables
Changing patterns of generation and energy demand are being fuelled by the emergence of new distributed energy resources and technological innovations.
